Steven LaChance Blog

Have you ever noticed how life doesn’t come with a pause button, but it does come with playlists? When things get messy, we don’t just doomscroll or vent into the void of our Notes app. We throw on a song that gets it. Music is the friend who crashes on your couch, steals your fries, and says, “Yup, this is a dumpster fire. Wanna wallow?”

Take those goofy love songs, for instance. You can’t tell me Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs” isn’t the audio version of a glitter bomb. It’s cheesy, it’s ridiculous, and suddenly you’re belting “I loooove yoooou” in traffic like a rom-com extra. Or ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” blasting at 8 a.m. while you scrub coffee stains off the counter. “You can dance, you can jive!” I’m in sweatpants. But hey, vibe shift.

Breakup songs? They’re their own genre of therapy. Adele’s “Someone Like You” is basically the musical equivalent of eating cold pizza at 2 a.m. “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you”—aka, “I’m definitely over it” (spoiler: you’re not). Or Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way,” where Stevie Nicks hands you a match to burn that bridge. “If I could, baby, I’d give you my world”… but she won’t. And we’re here for it.

Then there’s protest music. When the world feels like it’s held together by duct tape, songs like Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” hit like an unexpected wake-up call. Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is that old protest sign in your garage that still feels urgent. And Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”? That’s not just a song—it’s a Molotov cocktail of bass and truth.

Sad songs? Oh, we’ve all been there. Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” for me is like sitting in a dim room with someone who knows your existential crisis. “What have I become?” Same, Johnny. Same. Or Phoebe Bridgers’ “I Know the End,” where she whispers “The end is here” like she’s scrolling through your doom-filled BlueSky feed. Pair it with cereal for dinner. No shame.

But let’s not forget the anthems for when you’re pretending to have your life together. Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” is the hype woman all your ladies, trans and drag sisters need. “Walk your fine ass out the door!” Suddenly, you’re swiping on mascara like you’re about to conquer the world (or at least your inbox). Or Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” turning a Monday morning into your personal montage. Spoiler: You’re still late to the Zoom meeting.

Point is, music’s the duct tape for the soul. It doesn’t fix everything, but it sure makes the chaos feel a little more karaoke-ready. So next time life’s serving you a soggy sandwich, just hit play. There’s a track for that. And if anyone side-eyes your playlist? Blast Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” and vanish in a puff of black gothic smoke. Poof—problem solved.